Ganeshotsav begins across country with great pomp and gaiety

17:00 September 02

People celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi across India

People across Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal and Karnataka brought Ganpati idols home to mak the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. 

12:34 September 02

Bengaluru: Devotees gather at Dodda Ganesha Temple to offer prayers

Devotees gather at Dodda Ganesha Temple to offer prayers

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated with immense fervour and gaiety in Bengaluru's Dodda Ganpathi temple on Monday.

Devotees in Bengaluru also added a touch of eco-friendliness in their celebrations as they made an awe- inspiring 30 feet igh idol fashioned out of a total of 9,000 coconuts near the Puttengally Ganesh Temple.

10:19 September 02

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets Ganesh Chaturthi greetings

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to Twitter to wish everyone on the occasion and tweeted: "Heartfelt greetings of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi to all countrymen."

10:17 September 02

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extends greetings on Ganeshotsav

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings as the 10-day long festivities kicked off today.

"Wishing everyone a blessed Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganpati Bappa Morya!" he tweeted.

10:15 September 02

President Ram Nath Kovind greets nation on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi

Wishing for happiness and prosperity in the lives of citizens, President Kovind tweeted: "Ganpati Bappa Morya! Greetings and good wishes to fellow citizens on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. May the blessings of Lord Ganesh bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone's lives."

09:07 September 02

Padma Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik prepares a splendid sand art of Lord Ganesha

Sand art of Lord Ganesha

Renowned sand artist Padma Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik prepares a splendid sand art of Lord Ganesha at the Puri beach in Odisha. 

Pattnaik made this in solidarity with the Prime Minister's call on saving the environment and saying 'NO' to single use plastic. 
 

08:41 September 02

Devotees offer prayers at Lalbaugcha Raja

Devotees begin arriving at Lalbaugcha Raja pandal in Mumbai seeking blessings of Lord Ganesh as the 10-day long festivities kicked off on Monday.

07:35 September 02

Mumbai: 40k cops, 5k CCTVs to be deployed for Ganpati festival

India celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi

Mumbai: India is all geared up to celebrate the 11-day long Ganpati festival beginning on Monday till Anant Chaturdashi on September 12 with great pomp and show. 

Police have issued a general alert for Mumbai in view of the upcoming Ganpati festival and over 40,000 personnel will be deployed for security in the metropolis, an official said on Saturday.

An official said 7,703 public and 1.63 lakh domestic idols will be installed on Ganesh Chaturthi, along with 11,667 idols of the elephant-headed God with Gauri this year.

Personnel from the State Reserve Police Force, Riot Control Police, Quick Response Teams (QRT), BDDS squad, traffic police, Home Guards, Civil Defence and volunteers of various Ganesh mandals will be part of the security set-up, he said.

More than 5,000 CCTVs will monitor activities in the city, he said, adding that Lalbaugcha Raja mandal will have special arrangements considering the massive crowds it attracts.

"As of now there is no specific terror inputs on the wake of the festive season, but we are alert and taking all precautionary measures," the official said.

The idols will be immersed at 129 places in the city, including Girgaum, Juhu and other prominent beaches, he said.

Police will coordinate with BMC, Coast Guard, Navy, and boats will be on stand-by to tackle any untoward incident, like drowning, he added. 

READ: A peek into the lives of these lesser known artists on Ganesh Chaturthi